From the beginning of his ministry in Matthew’s gospel, Jesus focused on extending blessing. Jesus’ first and most important teaching, his Sermon on the Mount, pointed to the surprising people and places where God’s blessing is revealed. Not within palace walls or even, religious structures. Not within systems of power which use force to oppress or rule, but in lives and circumstances of those who suffer as a result of the empire’s (any empire’s) will to conquer and dominate.

As Matthew’s gospel continues, he has put his words into action offering blessing, healing, restoration and liberation to those who have been cast aside, and commissioned his disciples to follow his path. Yet, as we arrive at Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30, Jesus’ ministry is not recognized by all and his frustration wells up before he extends an unparalleled message of mercy:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

Jesus is in the business of removing heaving burdens. Those placed on ourselves or others. Those the societies and systems we build inflict on people. As followers of Jesus the question ever before us is how do we continue allowing the vision of blessedness outlined in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount to guide our days and our deeds in peace and justice? Knowing that in every age we will fall short, just like those before us did.

As our nation celebrates 250 years, there is a temptation to enshrine our founders and forebearers as unique and blessed trailblazers. But the good news of Jesus does not allow us to simply glorify our founders and their pursuits without also acknowledging the ways that their ideals excluded and placed heavy burdens on others. The good news of Jesus does not allow us to silently stand by and ignore all the ways that our leaders throughout history and to this day have continued to disenfranchise and marginalize groups of people because of their sex, or race, the lands they came from, or the ways they live their lives. The good news of Jesus calls us to our own self-examination and confession of the places where we are active participants or complicit bystanders in allowing burdens to be placed on others.

Church, the work before us is ever and always to yoke ourselves to Jesus and to share in his work of removing burdens from those still weighed down by oppressive systems and structures – one act of mercy at a time. Christ calls us, burden by burden, to join his ongoing work of blessing, healing, restoration and liberation, trusting that resurrection always has the final word.